Western Balkan Countries: Adjustment Capacity to External Shocks, with a Focus on Labour Markets

Vladimir Gligorov, Anna Iara, Michael Landesmann, Robert Stehrer and Hermine Vidovic ()
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Hermine Vidovic: The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw, https://wiiw.ac.at/hermine-vidovic-s-18.html

No 352, wiiw Research Reports from The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw

Abstract: The main question addressed in this study is the performance of the labour markets in the Western Balkans. The aim is to find out whether they can deliver growth of employment and decline of unemployment in the medium run and whether they can withstand short-term shocks due to changes in demand or supply. These questions are particularly pressing in view of the monetary policy based on fixed exchange rates which is followed by the majority of the countries in this region. In terms of the theory of optimal currency areas, if the exchange rate is fixed, labour markets have to be flexible if there are adverse shocks. Otherwise, adjustment would work through a fall in employment levels and an increase in unemployment. The alternative of flexible exchange rates has been abandoned by most monetary authorities in the region for fears of risk of an exchange rate crisis.

Keywords: Western Balkans; optimum currency area; labour market flexibility; external disequilibria; wage-setting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D57 E24 F15 F16 F41 F42 J3 J4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 136 pages including 35 Tables and 40 Figures
Date: 2008-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-lab, nep-mac and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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